Merkantil Bank Liga: Promotion race hots up

A 1-1 draw away to Mosonmagyaróvár at the weekend might not have been enough for Zalaegerszeg to clinch promotion back to the top flight, but the Zala County men are well-placed to achieve their season goal of returning to the top-flight, sitting on 70 points and requiring only five points from their final five matches to do so. Key for Barna Dobos’ side this season have been the prolific attacking trio of Benjamin Babati, Gergely Bobál and Zsolt Gajdos.

Kaposvár, although well placed for a promotion push all season, have faltered in recent weeks, losing against ETO Győr, Békéscsaba and Nyíregyháza. This weekend saw them get back to winning ways, however, courtesy of a strike from veteran ex-Újpest striker Péter Rajczi away to Budafok. The Somogy County men are now third on 59 points.

Gyirmót are another club who have been among the front-runners all season, but like Kaposvár, patchy recent form has seen them drop off the pace. Sunday saw them entertain Vasas – relegated from NB I last season – at the Alcufer Stadion on the outskirts of Győr in a promotion six-pointer. Victory would have put Gyirmót four clear of Kaposvár and five above Vasas in second place, but with league top scorer Ádám Balajti scoring the only goal of the match with a second-half penalty, it was the Budapest side who took all three points.

Vasas, in ninth place and fourteen points off a promotion place after 25 matches, have now gone on a run of seven wins and a draw in their last eight, and are now fourth in the table on 58 points, just two points behind Gyirmót.